The party moves out, walking even more slowly than before. As the sun begins to set, the pall of twilight begins to suffuse the colors of the day. At one point, Druid raises his head and looks side to side as if he heard something, but shakes his head and keeps walking. Moments thereafter, a chorus of three high-pitched but melodious voices, surrounding the party, break out in song. As the melody weaves and lifts, everyone's faces but Trilgat's assume an air of serenity. Their knees bend, and they slowly and delicately collapse to the ground; their eyes close, and they fall asleep. Grey Fox rumbles with a particularly raucous snore, while Druid makes the occasional muffled 'mmmfmm' under his breath. A fourth voice, just behind Trilgat at about head height squeaks, "You really should get some rest, too," and giggles.

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

Trilgat sees, hovering a couple of feet above the ground, a sprite about 18 inches tall with green skin and a frilly blue flower where his hair would be. It has petal-like wings that resemble the flower on its head. Its only concession towards clothing is a small leaf tied around its waist, and a thorn-like dagger stuck through the stem of the leaf, close to hand. The creature darts forward, giving Trilgat a sharp shove in the chest, and darts away again. Trilgat stumbles backwards slightly, but maintains balance. Two of the other voices go silent, and the third changes melodies. Trilgat, however, seems equally unaffected by this tune.

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

Hmm. And yet, it's like some clearly magical effect forced Jack to go unconscious. : DIt's almost like I'm describing it from Trilgat's perspective and he's not in a position to know the difference between sleep and Trance. [/asshole]

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

"We just want you to get the sleep you need! It's getting late, and you look tired." Trilgat starts moving towards Jack. As he does, the sprite squeaks, "No, you mustn't wake him! he'll be sooo cranky!". It bursts into song, and Trilgat's eyes start to droop, but he shakes it off. "Nooo!" As Trilgat gets to Jack's side, three sprites burst towards him; they look, as near as he can tell, like the first one in different colors, but he only gets a quick glimpse of them before they collide with him. One grabs at each of his wrists, and the third shoves on his chest. They're clearly not very strong, but they do start to move him away from Jack.

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

Trilgat realizes that extricating himself from the sprites will be very easy at whatever point he chooses to do so."You mortals are always running around higgledy-piggledy like ants; nobody ever takes time to enjoy a nice, relaxing rest. It's not good for you! Everybody would be soooo much nicer if they'd just calm down and get some rest." The sprites have stopped tugging on Trilgat, but haven't let go.

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

Trilgat stops pulling against the sprites. "I don't normally mind getting some nice rest. I generally take any opportunity to get some. But you've picked a bad time to do this. We're all very busy at the moment; we have a sick friend that needs healing ASAP, and a murderer who we need to take to jail before his friends find and kill us. If we stop to rest now, we may be too late for both of those, and then you'll have to deal with dead bodies around here, if you're lucky. If you aren't... well, I'd rather not think of what may happen. So please, let us be on our way."

"Always with the excuses! It's like you all hate yourselves. And reason! I can't force YOU to go to sleep, but you should try anyway. And I'm afraid we just can't let you wake all your little friends up."

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."

(Raising his voice from frustration)"Does it not occur to you that lives are on the line here? What is the use of getting a good rest if it puts you in danger? How is one supposed to relax when he has that to worry about? I mean, for Olidammara's sake! How can I waste time like that knowing that if we don't carry out our plans quickly an entire village will be slaughtered?!"Trilgat wrenches his arms away from the sprites and heads over towards Jack again, walking briskly.

"AAAAAARRRRGH!" Trilgat yells at the top of his lungs while reaching for a dart. When he gets a hold of one he quickly props himself onto one arm and throws the dart at the first sprite he sees (naturally trying not to hit himself).

Several birds in a nearby tree are startled out of their doze, but the sleeping figures on the ground seem entirely unperturbed. Trilgat's dart whizzes through the air towards one of the sprites and pierces one, pinning it to the ground. With a piercing shriek, the sprite thrashes and struggles against the dart. The other sprites gasp, clearly taken aback, and two draw their daggers from their waists; the third moves over to its stricken comrade, pulling the dart out of the ground. The armed sprites fly towards Trilgat's head, swinging at his eyes and neck. Trilgat barely manages to avoid being stabbed by falling back to the ground.

"I meant," said Iplsore bitterly, "what is there in this world that makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"CATS," he said eventually, "CATS ARE NICE."